Georgian media report: opposition Lelo party leaders depart for Brussels for new directives ahead of upcoming local elections

Georgian outlet Prime Time on Thursday reported that early Mamuka Khazaradze, Giorgi Kupradze, and Irakli Datunashvili, the leaders of the opposition Lelo party, on Thursday departed for Brussels to receive new assignments.
A source from the Lelo party told the outlet that the situation inside the party was currently strained.

On the one hand, Lelo, together with Giorgi Gakharia, complied with specific requests from Brussels and entered the electoral process. However, given the broader challenges faced by the opposition ahead of the upcoming local elections, the party has struggled to adapt to the campaign environment and failed to nominate mayoral or majoritarian candidates in most districts.

The same source also confirmed that Khazaradze was facing leadership challenges within the party.

“This was partly reflected publicly when Saba Buadze left the Lelo after not being nominated as a mayoral candidate. In addition to Buadze, several other party leaders have opposed the promotion of Kupradze and Elisashvili within Khazaradze’s circle”, the source added.

As for the Brussels trip, the publication reports that Khazaradze’s visit is linked to receiving fresh instructions from the European political capital. It remains unclear, however, what specific directives the former banker will bring back.